SLM thesis research vacancies 2017 Soil Physics & Land ... · 10/1/2016 · This booklet provides an overview of current thesis research vacancies at SLM for the master study Earth

This booklet provides an overview of current thesis research vacancies at SLM for the master study Earth and Environment. If you follow another master study, the contact person of the particular topic will decide whether your background is suitable. The topics are divided in 5 categories:

1. Water 2. Solute 3. Groundwater 4. Vegetation 5. Regional studies

The list is not exhaustive. If you have a topic in mind which relates to soil physics and land management and which is not listed here, don’t hesitate to contact us. For general questions or an intake to get better guidance please contact: Klaas.Metselaar@wur. nl (tel. 85322)

SLM thesis research vacancies 2017 Soil Physics & Land Management

MSc thesis supervisors at the SLM group

SLM Staff member Expertise Approach

Dr.ir. Michel Riksen Atlas room C405 Phone: 0317 482833 [email protected]

- Wind erosion - Coastal dune management - Soil and water conservation - Landscape restoration

Dr.ir. Jantiene Baartman Atlas room C409 Phone: 0317 486131 [email protected]

- Soil erosion modelling - Physical land degradation

processes - Soil and water conservation

Dr.ir. Aad Kessler Atlas room C413 Phone: 0317 486055 [email protected]

- Soil and water conservation - Integrated Farm Management - Farmers’ decision-making and

adoption - Intervention strategies

Dr. ir. Luuk Fleskens Atlas room C405 Phone: 0317 485467 [email protected]

- Ecosystem services - Multi-scale impact assessments

SLM - Farmer decision-making - Water harvesting

Prof. Dr. Sjoerd van der Zee Atlas room C407, Phone: 0317 482103 [email protected]

- Water flow solute transport - Pollutant behaviour in soil &

groundwater - Contaminant Bioavailability

Dr. Saskia Keesstra Atlas room C409 Phone: 0317 482877 [email protected]

- Processes in catchment system dynamics

- Water and sediment connectivity

- Fire effects on soil and hydrology

- Methodology development in physical geography

Dr. Jerry Maroulis Atlas room C.413 Phone: 0317 482881 [email protected]

- Erosion processes - Fluvial geomorphology - Soil conservation - Land degradation - Online education

mailto:[email protected]







MSc thesis supervisors at the SLM group

Ing. George Bier Atlas room B.417 Phone: 0317 482830 [email protected]

- Hydrology - Ground water - Modeling

Dr.ir. Jos van Dam Atlas room C.411 Phone: 0317 484825 [email protected]

- Hydrology - Soil Physics - Water Management

Dr.ir. Violette Geissen Atlas room C.403 Phone: 0317 484825 [email protected]

- Environmental Management

- Land Degradation - Soil Biology - Soil Chemistry - Soil Fertility - Soil Management - Soil Physics - Soil Sciences

Dr.ir. Martine v.d. Ploeg Atlas room C.411 Phone: 0317 483714 [email protected]

- Hydrology - Soil Physics - Water Management

dr.ir. Klaas Metselaar Atlas room B.417 Phone: 0317 485322 [email protected]

- Eco-hydrology - Soil Physics - Water Management

Prof.dr. Coen Ritsema Atlas room C.403 Phone: 0317 486517 [email protected]

- Land Degradation - Soil Management - Soil Physics







Overview of master thesis topics for MEE 2017-2018

# Water Supervisor 1 Quantification of soil moisture variability in the Raam Catchment Martine van der Ploeg 2 Sprinkler irrigation efficiency in Tasmania Klaas Metselaar 3 WaterVision: crop production in relation to water and salt stress Jos van Dam 4 Measuring soil physical relationships in laboratory and field Jan Wesseling 5 Laboratory experiment to study rainfall-erosion dynamics Martine van der Ploeg 6 Using weather forecasts to predict root water storage Jos van Dam 7 Do gas bubbles affect soil hydraulic conductivity? Klaas Metselaar # Solute 1 Salinity of soil and groundwater Sjoerd van der Zee 2 Landscape-based regulatory risk assessment of pesticides Sjoerd van der Zee 3 Salinity and the growth of Olive trees Jos van Dam 4 Effects of micro-plastics and pesticides on earthworms Violette Geissen 5 Re-use of treated waste water in agriculture Sjoerd van der Zee 6 Waste water irrigation and soil quality Sjoerd van der Zee 7 Soil transport of agrochemicals, viruses, organics, metals Sjoerd van der Zee # Groundwater 1 Water management of Fochteloërveen George Bier 2 Surface water routing in MODFLOW George Bier 3 Assessment of groundwater recharge in Cooper Creek, Australia Martine van der Ploeg 4 Groundwater resources management in NE Brazil Klaas Metselaar # Vegetation 1 Mangroves in New Zealand: hydrology and carbon balance Klaas Metselaar 2 Vegetation composition and soil water dynamics Martine van der Ploeg 3 Irrigation with sub-surface drainage system Sjoerd van der Zee 4 Hydro-ecological model for Brazilian Caatinga forest Klaas Metselaar 5 Mine site revegetation assessment in outback Australia Jerry Maroulis 6 Floodplain hydrology - a model comparison Klaas Metselaar 7 Palms on mountain tops in Curacao Klaas Metselaar # Regional analysis 1 Preventing and remediating degradation of soils in Europe: RECARE Violette Geissen 2 Norway: Snowmelt, frozen soils and soil erosion Jantiene Baartman 3 Effect of relative humidity on wind erosion Michel Riksen 4 Sediment dynamics and carbon fluxes in Spain Jantiene Baartman 5 Replanting trees on Bonaire Klaas Metselaar

Quatification of soil moisture field variability

in the Raam catchment

Project Description

The European Sentinel-1 Satellite Programme provides a unique opportunity for operational

monitoring of the water availability from space at unprecedented spatial and temporal resolutions.

Data from satellites need to be verified at the local field scale. The Waterboard Aa and Maas,

together with Wageningen University and Twente University are looking for a student that can

manage the soil moisture network currently being set-up in the Raam catchment area. The

proposed thesis/internship may focus on 1) local knowledge of soil processes and variability in soil

properties, especially the translation of soil moisture data to value-added products for water

management or 2) comparison of field derived soil moisture variability and Sentinal-1 satellite

data.

Host institute: ITC Enschede/Wageningen University

Country: Netherlands

Starting date: as soon as possible

SLM contact person: Martine van der Ploeg ([email protected])

MSc thesis research Water – topic 1

Tasmania: Efficiency of center pivot irrigation

(also WRM-topic)

Project Description

Methodology: Detailed field (soil and water) measurements during the growing season

Research objective/question:

Improving the effectiveness and efficacy of centre pivot irrigators, particularly in the dairy industry in which there are

problems with compact low infiltration rate soils. This would suit a hands on field based student.

Host institute: Dr Marcus Hardie, Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture Country: Australia (Tasmania)

Starting date: to be agreed with partner

SLM contact person: Klaas Metselaar ([email protected]) – for WRM: Henk Ritzema



WaterVision: crop production subject to

dry, wet or saline conditions

Project Description

To simulate the effects of hydrology and climate change on agricultural production SWAP

(hydrology) and WOFOST (crop growth) are well-known models. They allow a distinction between

the effects of dry, wet (oxygen stress) or saline conditions in the root zone. Although both models

are well tested and available for use in WaterVision, there are still many questions that could be

addressed for a thesis. An interesting topic could be the effect of soil temperature on root

development and start of the growing season; another topic could be how to deal with different

stresses during the growing season. How exactly does a cold and wet spring affect harvestable

yield when the summer months are highly productive? A third thesis topic could involve model

testing on datasets from all over the world as part of an international project. Can the SWAP-

WOFOST model also simulate crop growth of soy bean? And can we incorporate nutrient

management?

Host institute: Alterra/Wageningen University


Starting date: any time

Contact persons: Jos van Dam ([email protected]); Mirjam Hack-tenBroeke



Measuring soil physical relationships in lab

and field

Project Description

Methodology: Library and internet search

Research objective/question: Introduction: Unsaturated hydraulic soil functions (the water retention curve and hydraulic conductivity curve) are key to understanding and simulating the transport of (agro-)chemicals and water in the unsaturated zone. They are used in simulations of a.o. the effects of land and water management under climate change or the leaching of pesticides. Unsaturated hydraulic soil functions are difficult and costly to obtain. The most common laboratory measurement method currently used to determine the soil hydraulic functions has shown pitfalls. These include measurement errors and the incomplete coverage of the soil matrix pressure domain from soil saturation to wilting point. Also, the use of laboratory measurements on soil samples instead of in situ measurements in the field causes errors in the soil hydraulic functions. With the advent of wetter and dryer conditions in soils in The Netherlands due to climate change, there is an increasing demand for more reliable outputs of water transport simulation models. More and more reliable data on soil hydraulic functions of soils all over the world are vital to achieve this. Research subject: The research involves a desk top search for the newest and most promising methods to measure soil hydraulic functions currently developed in research institutes, laboratories, universities and (agro-industrial) companies all over the world. Methods should include both laboratory and in situ field measurement techniques. The research will provide an up to date overview of the available and new, promising methods, including full descriptions, strengths and weaknesses, and recommendations.

Host institute: WUR-SLM/Alterra, Jan Wesseling ([email protected])

Country: NL

Starting date: A.s.a.p.

SLM contact person: Michel Riksen ([email protected])




Connectivity in the lab: a large-scale experiment to study non-linear rainfall-

erosion dynamics

Project Description Reduction of soil erosion is extremely challenging, because the relation between rainfall, runoff and erosion is known to be

highly non-linear; intense rainfall events do not necessarily produce high net erosion and low rainfall sometimes result in

large soil losses. On top of this, the frequency-magnitude of rainfall events is likely to change due to climate change,

leading to more extreme rainfall events in many parts of the world and subsequent flooding and other geo-hazards. A

possible explanation for the unpredictable pulses of sediment within a catchment is a change in connectivity.

Connectivity is a measure of the number and length of water and sediment pathways, from source to sink, in a landscape

Methodology: Large scale rainfall simulation experiment, see also

http://www2.hull.ac.uk/science/geography/research/deep.aspx


In this HYDRALAB+ project, the large-scale rainfall simulation facility in Hull (UK) will be used to:

1) test and quantify the quantify the (non-linear) effect of varying temporal sequences of rainfall event frequency-

magnitudes on erosion and sediment dynamics;

2) To quantify the connectivity after each event as a novel explanatory factor for this non-linearity.

Host institute: University of Hull, UK / Wageningen University

Country: UK

Starting date: June 2017; two students are needed

SLM contact person: Jantiene Baartman and/or Martine van der Ploeg


http://www2.hull.ac.uk/science/geography/research/deep.aspx

Predicting root water content based on

weather forecast ensembles

Project Description

Each day weather forecast ensembles for a 15-day period become available. These can be used as

input for a soil simulation model to determine the bandwidth of predicted soil water content in the

root zone. Such information can be of use for the farmer (when to perform tillage, when to

irrigate) or for the water board (expected droughts and floods). Technically this is possible, and

for a single test case some results have been obtained. We are looking for some more test runs

(different soil types, different crops) to see what information (water content in root zone,

drainage, crop yield, crop growth reduction factors, etc.) is the best to consider for potential users

of such a tool.

Host institute: Wageningen University and Research

Country: Tthe Netherlands

Starting date: Any time

SLM contact person: Jos van Dam ([email protected]); Alterra: Marius Heinen ([email protected])




Do gass bubbles affect the hydraulic

conductivity of soils?

Project Description The hydraulic conductivity of a soil is often assumed to be constant through time. Gas bubble formation may block soil pores and thereby result in considerable temporal variability of hydraulic conductivity. However, current methods to estimate hydraulic conductivity are unsuitable to test effects of bubble formation. Though operating at the pore scale, bubble formation likely has major consequences for water management and model calculations on water budgets. Methodology

1) Develop a novel apparatus to measure hydraulic conductivity without disturbing soil bubble content

2) Explore the relation between bubble content and hydraulic conductivity in laboratory and field experiments

Host institute: Wageningen university, B-Ware (Nijmegen), Radboud University (Nijmegen)

Country: The Netherlands


SLM contact person: Klaas Metselaar ( [email protected] T: 0317 485322)



Salinity of soil and groundwater:

Netherlands, Australia, Israel, world

Water scarcity is a major reason to use salt or brackish water in semi-arid region agriculture, just as salt water intrusion is a cause of salinity problems in Dutch and other coastal areas. Poor quality irrigation water as well as re-use of waste water therefore lead to problems with soil, groundwater, and crop quality, which will grow during this century and that require scientists to help counter adverse effects. In this topic, several minor or major topics are feasible, that range from experimental (in Wageningen, abroad) to theoretical (e.g. in Wageningen, in Sydney, Australia or USA). Particularly, the topic of combining an ecohydrological model with a 2-3 D groundwater model is currently developed by staff and we would appreciate a student who is interested to simulate how salinity develops in a regional setting. Experimental research to assess how specific crops react to salinity in the root zone are also possible, provided the timing is compatible with the growing season under greenhouse conditions (or with our partner in the Negev, Israel). Other focus areas are welcome for discussion

MSc thesis research Solutes – topic 1

Host institute: Soil Physics/Ecohydrology SLM, WU, Univ. Sydney or Sao Paulo

Country: to be discussed


SLM contact person: Sjoerd van der Zee (0317-482103) ([email protected])

Developing a landscape-based regulatory risk

assessment of pesticides and EC

Project Description

Methodology: The current EU way to decide about pesticide admission to the market is strongly based on

local assessments with pesticide fate models, taking industry provided parameters for mobility and

persistence into account. To make pesticide risk assessments, such local models are incorporated in GIS to

upscale to larger regions or countries. In the future, alternative landscape-based models directly combine

emissions, land use, several transport routes in the environment and population dynamics of threatened

organisms. The Dutch organisations involved in pesticide (and emerging contaminants, EC) screening are

now preparing for the future in developing such approaches.

Research objective/question: It is well-known by EU regulators that several issues are poorly considered

in screening en risk assessment such as transport by surface runoff, drain flow, and properties of EC (e.g.

pharmaceutical products). You will choose (1, 2) issues to elaborate so it can be incorporated in landscape-

based screening models

Host institute: SLM (in dialogue with Alterra, RIVM, PBL) and other (EU) partners

Country: Netherlands, to begin with

Starting date: somewhere in 2017

SLM contact person: Sjoerd van der Zee ([email protected])


From: A. van Loon et al. 2016


Olives trees in saline environments

Around the Mediterranean many Olive tree orchards are irrigated with either saline water or without sufficient leaching, resulting in salinization of Olive root zones. During 2013-2015 the Gilat Research Center in Israel, well-known for its research on saline water use, performed a large-scale, three year lysimeter experiment on salinity and Olive tree growth. The lysimeter data have been directly analyzed with linear and non-linear regression by Wageningen MSc student Rocio Ramirez Crisostomo. Although this yielded interesting relations, the data might be generalized more with an agrohydrological model as SWAP, which combines water and salt transport, crop growth and soil-plant-atmosphere interactions. The goal of this MSc thesis research is to calibrate and validate SWAP to the lysimeter data and to perform scenario analysis with respect to soil and irrigation management and climate change.


Host institute: Wageningen University in cooperation with Gilat Research Centre (Alon Ben-Gal)


SLM contact person: Jos van Dam

In terrestrial ecosystems, what is the effect of microplastics and pesticides on earthworms?

There is a strong use of pesticides around the world, and there is an extensive pollution of microplastics. We are looking for a master student working on the following topics:

1) Distribution of microplastics in Dutch soils (field work) 2) Laboratory experiment to test the effects of pesticides in combination with

microplastics on earthworms 3) Field work 1 month. Laboratory work in SLM department, 2 months.

Host institute: WUR

Contact person: Violette Geissen([email protected])


Starting date: as soon as possible



mailto:[email protected])

Re-Use of Treated Waste Water (Effluent) in

Agriculture

Project Description

Methodology: Treated effluents (domestic or industrial origin) are increasingly used for water supply in

irrigated agriculture, predominantly in semi-arid countries, but also in The Netherlands. Not only does this

lead to complex flow patterns, also transport of a broad range of contaminants occurs and is yet poorly

understood. For either Dutch sites (see picture) or in other countries, you will be involved in experimental

research of flow due to sub-irrigation, and several approaches to understand the flow of water and transport

of contaminants. If you have a good soil physics/hydrology background, also complex modelling is feasible.

We focus on EC as pharmaceuticals, veterinary medicines, and pathogens.

Research objective/question: For many of the contaminants (the ‘Emerging Contaminants’ EC), little is

known about their mobility and persistence in soil. In addition, the dynamics of water and EC is

spatiotemporally very variable. Therefore, we cannot judge well what risks are of using effluents in

agriculture. You will choose a topic to elaborate either experimentally or by modelling.

Host institute: SLM (and cooperating institutes as KWRWater, RIVM, Alterra)


Starting date: somewhere in 2017

SLM contact person: Sjoerd van der Zee ([email protected])



Waste water irrigation and soil quality

While water reuse in agriculture seems a good idea, there are all kinds of soil quality issues, both short-term and long term which are associated to different types of reused water (urine, grey water, brown water) or reuse products (struvite, calcium phosphate, compost). One such issue is that of sodification, which destroys soil structure. Other issues are related to effects on soil biology, and yet others are related to soil chemistry. We are looking for students who are interested to work notably on the topic of sodification and are willing to set up, execute and analyze column experiments . Changing the focus to soil biology or soil chemistry is entirely thinkable. Please feel free to discuss your interest. Host institute:


Starting date: 1-9-2014

ETE contact person: Marc Spiller (0317-483344; [email protected])

SLM contact person: Sjoerd van der Zee (0317 482103; [email protected]).


Transport of solutes in soil and groundwater:

agrochemicals, viruses, organics, metals

Contamination of soil and groundwater is a major issue worldwide. It concerns a broad range of substances that differ with regard to their mobility and type of biogeochemical interactions. In addition, we have to deal with ermerging contaminants that concern authorities a lot, but nobody knows well how these behave. Examples are hormone (disruptors), viruses, nano particles, and pharmaceuticals. To acquire understanding of the transport, behaviour, and fate of the diverse contaminants, models need to be parameterized using experiments, scenario and environmental risk assessment modelling should be done, and new model concepts have to be developed, if old concepts are shown to fail. In an MSc major, experimental investigations or model studies can be done using up to date techniques and software, at Dutch & foreign institutes, consultancy, universities


Host institute: Soil Physics, SLM, in cooperation with domestic and foreign partners

Country: diverse

Starting date: 3-5 months (minor or major), any time

SLM contact person: Sjoerd van der Zee (0317-482103) ([email protected])

Effects of surface level decline on water

management nature reserve Fochtelooerveen.

Project Description

Nature reserve the Fochtelooerveen, at the border of provinces Friesland and Drenthe is suffering

from peat oxidization. Consequently surface levels decline, requiring an even lower drainage level

in the surrounding agricultural areas. Starting from the 1950ties surface levels declined up to

120 cm. The continuous cycle of lowering drainage levels, peat oxidization and surface level

decline could endanger the existence of this nature reserve.

The objective of this thesis research is to conduct a model research indicating the effects of this

peat oxidization on water management aspects of the Fochtelooerveen.

Location: Wageningen University



SLM contact person: George Bier ([email protected])

MSc thesis research Groundwater– topic 1

Surface Water Routing in MODFLOW

Project Description

In low land, deltaic areas groundwater levels are shallow w.r.t. the surface. Therefore, interactions

between groundwater and open water are evident. However, groundwater flow has clearly

different characteristic spatial and temporal scales compared to open water flow, making it not

trivial to combine and calculate within numerical models.

Objective is to develop a hydrological model containing such complex open water routing features

and investigate the pros and cons compared to for example the Stream Flow Routing package.

TNO-Deltares is interested in your findings and could be a partner for data availability.

Location: Wageningen University



SLM contact person: George Bier ([email protected])

MSc thesis research Groundwater – topic 2

Assessment of groundwater recharge in Cooper Creek, Australia

Groundwater recharge modelling Cooper Creek is the longest and probably most ecologically important dryland river in Australia. Freshwater lenses can be found beneath the Cooper Creek floodplain near Ballera (southwest Queensland). The floodplain consists of 2-7 m of impermeable mud interspersed by sand dunes and underlain by fluvial sands. Stable water isotopes confirm the recharge is consistent with and dependent on monsoonal flooding events. Research questions: What amount of flooding induces recharge in this system and what role does the unsaturated zone in the dunes play? Research activities: This MSc. thesis involves modelling of the unsaturated and saturated zone. Conceptualization of the groundwater system, model setup, and sensitivity analysis are part of the activities. Depending on research outcome, this thesis might result in an internship with fieldwork on location. Supervision: WUR-SLM Group: Martine van der Ploeg, Jerry Maroulis and George Bier Contact person: Martine van der Ploeg ([email protected])


Improving of groundwater resources management

in NE Brazil

Short project description. Problem context: In the South Ceará (Jaguaribe basin, Northeast Brazil) the use of groundwater resources is regulated according to the following principle: total groundwater abstraction should not exceed average recharge. However, groundwater recharge is highly variable over time and estimating groundwater resources availability involves large uncertainties due to limitations in data availability, model schematizations (e.g. boundary conditions) and model parameter estimations. To overcome this, ideally the epistemic uncertainty of groundwater recharge should be considered in water management. In addition, long-term impacts of different water uses (human supply, irrigation, industry) on groundwater resources availability should be considered. Thus, an improved approach for the management of groundwater resources and their use is needed. Research questions: -What is the uncertainty of recharge estimations? -What are the long-term effects of water abstraction practices by different sectors? -How can uncertainties be included in water resources management for Southern Ceará, Brazil? What is expected from the student (type of research) A recently developed groundwater model will be used to estimate groundwater recharge and its uncertainty. Validation is done using monthly monitoring records of groundwater levels in the region available from the Ceará Water Agency (COGERH).

Host institute(s): UNILAB - Redenção, Ceará, Brazil (http://www.unilab.edu.br) FUNCEME – Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil (http://www.funceme.br/) Country: Brazil; Starting date: 2017; WRM contact person: Pieter van Oel ([email protected]) SLM contact person: Klaas Metselaar ([email protected])


http://www.unilab.edu.br/

http://www.funceme.br/



New-Zealand: Water, salt, mangrove growth

Project Description

Methodology: field work and modeling


There is a link between the carbon balance, hydrologyand greenhouse gas emissions. In a complex system

like mangroves, interdisciplinary research and analysis is required to quantify these relationships. We are

looking for a student who is willing to contribute to quantitative research on this topic in a multidisciplinary

setting from a hydrological point of view. The topic will be subject to discussion based on the interests of the

researchers and the student.

Host institute: University of Auckland Country: New Zealand

Starting date: Early 2018

SLM contact person: Klaas Metselaar ([email protected])

MSc thesis research Vegetation – topic 1


Shaping vegetation composition: soil water

dynamics over a wet-dry gradient

Project Description

Without management, floodplain vegetation of regulated rivers develops into floodplain forests. These floodplain forests are associated with high hydraulic roughness and little water storage capacity and hence can jeopardize water safety during high water discharges. In the Netherlands, measures are taken to limit the development of floodplain forests by for instance clearing floodplains of trees, excavating parts of the floodplain, and introducing herds of grazers. However, measures must be taken cautiously, as many of the Dutch floodplains are nature areas. The difficulty is that the effects those measures have on water safety and nature values as well as their efficiency are not well understood. So, unravelling processes that steer vegetation development helps to manage floodplains effectively. One of the many processes that shape floodplain vegetation development is soil water availability, as many plant species cannot withstand too much or too little water. But even small differences in soil water availability seem to be an important determinant in the actual vegetation composition. Therefore, the goal of this M.Sc. project is to map soil moisture and ground water level dynamics and measure the micro relief on a transect in the Duursche Waarden floodplain. The findings of the M.Sc. student will be coupled to vegetation mappings and plant trait measurements performed along the same transect to see how soil moisture dynamics may steer observed variation in vegetation and plant traits. Location The location of the research is the Duursche Waarden floodplain (between Deventer and Zwolle). When the student is not in the field, he/she can be stationed at Deltares (Utrecht). The student will be supervised by M. van der Ploeg (WUR) and V. Harezlak (University of Twente/Deltares). If you need more information, you can send an e-mail to [email protected].

Host institute: Deltares/Wageningen University


Starting date: preferably during growing season

SLM contact person: [email protected]/[email protected]


Efficient water supply of agricultural crops by comparison of sprinkler irrigation to

sub-irrigation using local groundwater as water source

Gé van den Eertwegh1, Ruud Bartholomeus2, and Arnaut van Loon2

1 KnowH2O, 2 KWR Watercycle Research Institute

Project Description In the Netherlands, the availability of fresh water for agricultural crop production can be under pressure during dry summer periods. Groundwater is used for irrigation purposes, as well as water from rivers Rhine and Meuse. In the southeastern part of the Netherlands, sprinkler irrigation using groundwater is quite a common practice during dry periods. As a result, the regional groundwater system is under pressure, affecting wet nature areas and drinking water reserves. The question is whether subsurface irrigation using existing subsurface drainage systems can be used in a more efficient way, as compared to sprinkler irrigation. Pumping and using the same local groundwater amount, crop transpiration could be enhanced. Also, potential over-use by sub-irrigation does not affect the local groundwater body, because return flow of water will re-enter the groundwater system. A pilot project will be setup the southeastern part of the Netherlands, in which local groundwater will be applied to a grassland field by sub-irrigation during the growing season of 2017, using a controlled drainage system. The subsurface drains of the system are interconnected and we will install an inlet pit upstream of the collector drain, for the groundwater to enter the drainage system. The chemical composition of groundwater will be somewhat different from rainfall excess water and agricultural drainage water. In the pilot project, we are looking at soil moisture conditions and local to regional groundwater levels. We will model tracer transport to describe water and solute transport in the soil system. At the 8 ha test site, we have installed a field monitoring network at three locations on the vadose zone and the upper 2 m of the local groundwater system. We will setup and use SWAP (1D) and Hydrus (2D) models to simulate water and solute transport at the field site.

Host institute: KnowH2O (Gé van den Eertwegh, PhD., [email protected])


Starting date: Spring 2017

Contact persons: Remko Uijlenhoet ([email protected]), Sjoerd van der Zee ([email protected] ), and Jos van Dam ([email protected])






Helping the development of a hydro-ecological model for semi-arid Brazilian caatinga forest structure and function

This project will focus on the dry Caatinga vegetation of North East Brazil, which has suffered from scientific neglect, destruction, and lack of conservation attention, despite a high level of unique (endemic) plant species that are adapted to the region's severe and erratic droughts. Linking to a recently UK/Brazil funded research project, “Nordeste”, this project will help investigate how gradients in rainfall amount and variability combine with contrasting soil physical and chemical properties to influence the key structural and physiological properties of semi-arid vegetation.. The principle tool to be built upon will be a Soil-Vegetation-Atmosphere Transfer (SVAT) model [1-3], serving to describe the fluxes of radiation, heat, water vapour and CO2 between a multi-component Caatinga system (trees, shrubs, herbs, grass, succulents, bare soil) and the atmosphere. This modelling approach already requires a knowledge of above-ground vegetation characteristics, with this project adding below-ground competition for nutrients and water, and an above- and below-ground growth mode Using a literature search and a mechanistic modelling approach the project will aim to:

• Probe how caatinga above ground growth strategies link to below-ground root architecture and water/nutrient uptake

• This will be achieved through appropriate simulations with the final bespoke numerical model of ecosystem carbon, heat and water exchanges.

Literature (1) Wallace, J.S., Quarterly J. of the Royal Met. Soc, 1997, 123: 1885-1905; (2) Wallace, J. and A. Verhoef, Leaf Development and Canopy Growth, 2000: 204-250 (3) Verhoef, A. and S. Allen, Ecol. Mod., 2000. 127, 245-267; (4)V h f A d E G A F M t l 2014 191 22 32

Host institute: University of Reading (Anne Verhoef) Country: UK

Starting date: to be agreed with partner, also internship



http://www.google.nl/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwjb-9j2pbzQAhUGXBoKHU0BDf0QjRwIBw&url=http://www.tabirahoje.com.br/?p%3D46925&psig=AFQjCNHX9RBbQpLg5F27iTdTM6J451cuoQ&ust=1479901375439911


Minesite revegetation assessment in outback Australia

Landloch is a specialist land, soil, vegetation, and water management consultancy company that works collaboratively with clients across a wide range of industries, including mining, road, rail, pipeline, rural and urban construction, and with Local, State and Federal Government agencies. It uses high quality science to provide practical and cost effective solutions to a wide range of situations.

Landloch is seeking a student to carry out investigations of the potential to use high-resolution satellite imagery or other spatial imagery to assess revegetation on minesites, with emphasis on:

• Surface cover; • Plant density; • Species distributions; and • Delineation of areas of above- and below-average growth.

Landloch has offices in Queensland, Western Australia and New South Wales, and this work is likely to focus on sites in the Pilbara region of Western Australia.

Landloch facilities incorporate soil and erosion laboratories, manufacturing workshops and storage facilities, with unique field and laboratory-based water infiltration and erosion measurement capabilities, which are available to support its consultancies and research projects. Any interested students are invited to discuss their options with Jerry.

Host institute: Landloch

Country: Australia

Starting date: By negotiation

SLM contact person: Jerry Maroulis, SLM (Ph: 482881; E-mail: [email protected])

MSc thesis research Vegetation – Topic 5

Floodplain hydrology: a model comparison

Project Description

Methodology: Detailed field (soil and water) modelling and model comparison


Biodiversity of floodplain meadows is highly desirable, but difficult to achieve and keep, given nutrient and sediment loadings of rivers. Understanding the groundwater dynamics is one important part of the management of these systems. Within ongoing analyses of floodplain meadows in the UK and in the context of monitoring by remote sensing, we are looking for a student who is willing to do a study comparing different hydrological models. The study will be based on available datasets, and will focus on the soil physical parameterization. Literature: S. Punalekar A. Verhoef, et al. 2016. Characterization of a highly biodiverse floodplain meadow using hyperspectral remote sensing within a plant functional trait framework. Remote sens. 8:112

Host institute: University of Reading (Anne Verhoef) Country: UK

Starting date: to be agreed with partner, also internship


MSc thesis/internship research Vegetation – topic 6


Palm distribution on Curacao: factors defining

growth and occurrence

Project Description

Methodology: lab work, data analysis, mapping and measuring


Map the population structure of the only native palm species found on Curacao. This palm species is found only in the area

of the Christoffel Park ,and only in the higher parts of the Christoffel Park (characterized by a single geological formation).

These upper parts are characterized by higher humidity. Earlier work was done by Winkelman (1979). The question is why

is this palm's distribution limited - grazing by feral goats, donkeys and deer? Or do other factors play a role (exposition,

slope, soil pH or other soil characteristics)? This could be combined with germination tests on other species. On Carmabi we

have two small greenhouses and a lab where experiments could be done with seeds of the other species (in due time will

have to determine which tree species seeds are available). Also for MFN and Biology master students.

Host institute: WUR in cooperation with Carmabi Curacao Country: Curacao

Starting date: open




MSc thesis research Regional analysis – topic 1

Preventing and remediating degradation of soils in Europe through land care:

RECARE

Project Description The main aim of RECARE is to develop effective prevention, remediation and restoration measures using an innovative trans-disciplinary approach, actively integrating and advancing knowledge of stakeholders and scientists in 17 Case Studies, covering a range of soil threats in different bio-physical and socio-economic environments across Europe.

Methodology Within these Case Study sites located all over Europe, the current state of degradation and conservation will be assessed using a new methodology, based on the WOCAT mapping procedure, • Impacts of degradation and conservation on soil functions and ecosystem services will be

quantified in a harmonized, spatially explicit way, accounting for costs and benefits, and possible trade-offs,

• Prevention, remediation and restoration measures selected and implemented by stakeholders in a participatory process will be evaluated regarding efficacy, and

• The applicability and impact of these measures at the European level will be assessed using a new integrated bio-physical and socio-economic model, accounting for land use dynamics as a result of for instance economic development and policies.

Host institute: depending on country

Country: 15 countries all over Europe

Starting date: to be defined

SLM contact person: Violette Geissen ([email protected])

Norway: Snowmelt, frozen soils and soil erosion

Project Description The CATCHY project is an internal funded research project by Bioforsk, Ås, Norway, and focuses on the understanding of water pathway processes in small catchments in Norway. It uses a model that evaluates catchment discharge. Main aim of the project is to understand discharge processes to define small, local measures for reducing peak flow and soil loss. Within the project, a PhD study is ongoing where work from the MSc student can be linked. Depending on the interests of the student, and the time of the year, several research topics can be formulated, e.g.: - Soil erosion after spring snowmelt periods - Analyzes of soil and vegetation parameters during the growing season - Effectiveness of local soil conservation measures for erosion control - Modelling soil erosion, with focus on cold climate processes Research activities: Mix of fieldwork, laboratory and data analysis. Fieldwork could consist, depending on the research focus, of sampling and measurement of soil and vegetation characteristics, measurement of runoff and soil loss from small catchments and snow dynamics measurements.

Host institute: Bioforsk Soil and Environment, Norway: Jannes Stolte

Country: Norway

Starting date: after 1 October 2016

SLM contact person: Jantiene Baartman (tel: 0317-486131; e-mail: [email protected])


http://www.cesam.ua.pt/teamsite


Effect of relative humidity on wind erosion

Project Description

Wind erosion of soil is an important process with local, regional, and global implications. A body of recent

work suggests that the role of relative humidity (RH) in the air may be much more important than the soil

moisture in determining the potential for soil wind erosion. This is in part because soil moisture is measured

at some depth, usually a few centimeters below the surface whereas wind erosion is a process that occurs at

the air/soil interface. Empirical laboratory measurements have demonstrated that high RH can suppress wind

erosion, even in the complete absence of liquid water in the test soil.

Methodology: Laboratory measurements for several different types of soils can improve our ability to relate

RH to wind erosion potential. Tools available include a miniature wind tunnel-like device (PI-SWERL®),

conditioning chambers with ability to vary RH, and sensors for measuring ambient and soil parameters.

Research objective/question: There is a need to understand RH effects on wind erosion in different soils,

timescales of response to changes in RH, and mechanism by which RH exerts control over wind erodibility.

Host institute: Desert Research Institute (www.dri.edu), Las Vegas office, Las Vegas, Nevada.

Country: USA

Starting date: Flexible start date from September, 2017 through January, 2018

SLM contact person: Michel Riksen ([email protected])



Spain: Sustainable land management, sediment dynamics and carbon fluxes

In Spain, several ongoing research projects exist regarding sustainable land management (e.g. organic farming), carbon and nutrient fluxes and sediment dynamics. All research is focues in the semi-arid Mediterranean area of southeast Spain. Research topics can vary and are dependent on the student’s interests. Examples are an analysis and evaluation of the sustainable land use and management scenarios for sediment control and carbon sequestration, using multi-criteria analysis; Evaluation of nutrient mobilization by erosion under different management practices applied to organic rainfed crops; Effects on soil physical propertiesand implications for water conservation efficiency; Quantification of organic carbon pools and calculation of the carbon balance; effects of climate change and ecosystem services. Depending on the research focus, activities include field work, sampling, GIS database preparation and spatial analysis, modelling, laboratory analysis, interviews etc. There are always opportunities to participate in ongoing studies and group meetings. More info: www.cesam.ua.pt/teamsite

Host institute: CEBAS-CSIC, Murcia (Carolina Boix-Fayos, Joris de Vente, Maria Martinez-Mena

Country: Spain

Starting date: to be determined

SLM contact person: Jantiene Baartman (tel: 0317-486131; e-mail: [email protected])


http://www.cesam.ua.pt/teamsite


Rejuvenating perennial species on Bonaire:

locations and strategies

Project Description

Methodology: field work, data analysis, mapping and measuring


A reforestation project on Klein Bonaire has been set up by Elsmarie Beukenboom (ex dir STINAPA). In this area

STINAPA are now looking for a way in which this and similar projects can be continued. There are quite a few questions.

Continue the project? What is the best method? Cluster of several shade trees and then let nature take its course? What kind

of shade trees? On mainland Bonaire vegetation restoration needs to be supported by mapping soil,watershed and other site

factors, (vegetation species has already been completed, vegetation cover would be helpful). This could give a more detailed

picture of the restoration areas. The topic needs to be finalized in discussion between WUR, Stinapa, and ECHO. Also for

MFN and Biology master students.

Host institute: WUR in cooperation with STINAPA, and Echo Bonaire Country: Bonaire

Starting date: open

SLM contact person: Klaas Metselaar ([email protected]) with Milena Holmgren (REG)



SLM thesis research vacancies 2017 Soil Physics & Land ... · 10/1/2016 · This booklet provides an overview of current thesis research vacancies at SLM for the master study Earth

Documents